Erikson's psychosocial development theory erik erikson's psychosocial crisis life cycle model the eight stages of human development

Chief life stage issues and relationships are also re-stated as a reminder as to 

when things happen. 

'Basic psychological virtue' and 'basic virtue' (same thing), are Erikson's 

terminology. 

Erikson identified one basic virtue, plus another virtue (described below a 

'secondary virtue') for each stage. At times he referred to 'basic virtues' as 

'basic strengths'. 

A bit confusing, but the main point is that based on what observed for each 

stage he identified one clear basic virtue and one secondary virtue. From this 

he was able to (and we can too - he encouraged people to do so) extrapolate 

other related strengths. 

Bear in mind also that the first disposition in each crisis is also inevitably a 

related strength that comes from successfully experiencing each stage. 

Erikson recognised this by later referring to the first disposition (e.g., Trust, 

Autonomy, etc) as an 'Adaptive Strength'. 

basic virtues and other strengths 

crisis includingadaptive 

strength 

basic virtue & secondary virtue (and 

related strengths) 

life stage / relationships / 

issues 

 

1. Trust v Mistrust 

Hope & Drive (faith, inner calm, 

grounding, basic feeling that 

everything will be okay - enabling 

exposure to risk, a trust in life and self 

and others, inner resolve and strength 

in the face of uncertainty and risk) 

infant / mother / feeding and 

being comforted, teething, 

sleeping 

 

2. Autonomy v Shame 

& Doubt 

Willpower & Self-Control (self-

determination, self-belief, self-reliance, 

confidence in self to decide things, 

having a voice, being one's own 

person, persistence, self-discipline, 

independence of thought, 

responsibility, judgement) 

toddler / parents / bodily 

functions, toilet training, 

muscular control, walking 

3. Initiative v Guilt 

Purpose & Direction (sense of 

purpose, decision-making, working 

with and leading others, initiating 

projects and ideas, courage to instigate, 

ability to define personal direction and 

aims and goals, able to take initiative 

preschool / family / 

exploration and discovery, 

adventure and play 

---

and appropriate risks) 

4. Industry v Inferiority  Competence & Method (making 

things, producing results, applying 

skills and processes productively, 

feeling valued and capable of 

contributing, ability to apply method 

and process in pursuit of ideas or 

objectives, confidence to seek and 

respond to challenge and learning, 

active busy productive outlook) 

schoolchild / school, 

teachers, friends, 

neighbourhood / 

achievement and 

accomplishment 

5. Identity v Role 

Confusion 

Fidelity & Devotion (self-confidence 

and self-esteem necessary to freely 

associate with people and ideas based 

on merit, loyalty, social and 

interpersonal integrity, discretion, 

personal standards and dignity, pride 

and personal identity, seeing useful 

personal role(s) and purpose(s) in life) 

adolescent / peers, groups, 

influences / resolving 

identity and direction, 

becoming a grown-up 

6. Intimacy v Isolation 

Love & Affiliation (capacity to give 

and receive love - emotionally and 

physically, connectivity with others, 

socially and inter-personally 

comfortable, ability to form honest 

reciprocating relationships and 

friendships, capacity to bond and 

commit with others for mutual 

satisfaction - for work and personal 

life, reciprocity - give and take - 

towards good) 

young adult / lovers, friends, 

work connections / intimate 

relationships, work and 

social life 

7.Generativity v 

Stagnation 

Care & Production (giving 

unconditionally in support of children 

and/or for others, community, society 

and the wider world where possible 

and applicable, altruism, contributing 

for the greater good, making a positive 

difference, building a good legacy, 

helping others through their own crisis 

stages 

mid-adult / children, 

community / 'giving back', 

helping, contributing 

8. Integrity v Despair 

Wisdom & Renunciation (calmness, 

tolerance, appropriate emotional 

detachment - non-projection, no 

regrets, peace of mind, non-

late adult / society, the 

world, life / meaning and 

purpose, life achievements, 

acceptance  

---

judgemental, spiritual or universal 

reconciliation, acceptance of inevitably 

departing) 

 

 

erikson and maslow correlations? 

As an aside, there are significant parallels between the growth outcomes of 

the Erikson psychosocial model, and the growth aspects 

Maslow's Hierarchy of 

Needs

. It's not a precise fit obviously because the Erikson and Maslow 

perspectives are different, but the correlations are clear and fascinating. 

Erikson separately listed a series of 'Related Elements of Social Order' within 

his psychosocial model, which although quite obscure in this context, might 

aid the comparison. You might have your own views on this. For what it's 

worth here's mine: 

life stage / relationships / issues

 

crisis

 

virtue 

outcomes

 

Erikson's 'related 

elements of social 

order'

 

Maslow Hierarchy 

of Needs stage - 

primary correlation

 

infant / mother / feeding and 

being comforted, teething, 

sleeping

 

1. Trust v 

Mistrust

 

Hope & Drive

 

'cosmic order'

 

biological & 

physiological

 

toddler / parents / bodily 

functions, toilet training, 

muscular control, walking

 

 

2. Autonomy v 

Shame & Doubt

 

Willpower & 

Self-Control

 

'law and order'

 

safety

 

preschool / family / exploration 

and discovery, adventure and 

play

 

3. Initiative v 

Guilt

 

Purpose & 

Direction

 

'ideal prototypes'

 

belongingness & 

love

 

schoolchild / school, teachers, 

friends, neighbourhood/ 

achievement and accomplishment

 

4. Industry v 

Inferiority

 

Competence & 

Method

 

'technological 

elements'

 

esteem

 

adolescent / peers, groups, 

influences / resolving identity and 

direction, becoming a grown-up

 

5. Identity v 

Role Confusion

 

Fidelity & 

Devotion

 

'ideological 

perspectives'

 

esteem

 

young adult / lovers, friends, 

work connections / intimate 

relationships, work and social life

 

6. Intimacy v 

Isolation

 

Love & 

Affiliation

 

'patterns of 

cooperation and 

competition'

 

esteem

 

mid-adult / children, community / 

'giving back', helping, 

contributing

 

7. 

Generativity v 

Stagnation

 

Care & 

Production

 

'currents of 

education and 

training'

 

self-actualisation

 

late adult / society, the world, 

life / meaning and purpose, life 

8. Integrity v 

Despair

 

Wisdom & 

Renunciation

 

'wisdom'

 

self-actualisation

 

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